Trump causes excitement at the memorial day - happy greetings inappropriate!

Trump causes excitement at the memorial day - happy greetings inappropriate!

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, USA - On May 27, 2025, Memorial Day is in the United States, a holiday dedicated to the fallen soldiers. On this day, US President Donald Trump reminded the victims of the war in a moving speech at the Arlington National Cemetery. He praised the fallen soldiers as "big, big warrior" and called them "America's best and bravest" (Saxon) .

The ceremony included the laying down of a wreath on the grave of the unknown soldier, while Trump salited respectfully when the song "Taps" was played. As part of his speech, he also paid tribute to Navy officer Shannon Kent, who fell in Syria in 2019 and left two small children. Trump also mentioned Elroy Harworth, an Air Force soldier who fell during the Vietnam War, and Army Cpl. Ryan McGhee, who went into service at the age of 21 after the attacks on September 11 and lost his life (AP news) .

criticism of inappropriate statements

Trump opened the day with a contribution to Truth Social, in which he "Happy Memorial Day!" wished. This wording was criticized as inappropriate for a day that applies to the memory of the fallen soldiers (Saxon) . The strong excitement around this statement reflects the sensitivity that is connected to the memorial day.

The holiday, which has been celebrated as a national holiday on the last Monday in May since 1968, has its roots on the occasions that first took place in northern states to honor soldiers. Memorial Day was not originally celebrated for a national holiday, but was celebrated in various states before all north states officially recognized (info-USA) .

a day of commemoration

In the USA, many people take part in the memorial day in various activities to commemorate the fallen soldiers. This often includes visiting cemeteries, parades and compliance with a minute's silence at 3 p.m. local time, which was introduced in 2000 by the "National Moment of Remembrance Act" and establishes a deeper connection to the national identity and respect for the victims of the war (Info-USA) .

Although Trump honored the achievements of the fallen soldiers in his speech, the day remains characterized by its previous statements, which are concerned about the public discussion. While he focused on recognition and respect for the fallen soldiers, the say and tactics are still critically questioned during such occasions.